ABSTRACT
Sophisticated analytical techniques are useful testing tools to characterise and evaluate the quality of construction materials. Three vital techniques are scanning electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction technique and knowledge on their working principles, instrumentation and interpretation of consequences are essential for their application in various construction materials. Hence, a detailed procedure of sample preparation, factors influencing the testing and observations, attentiveness during testing and analysis of results and necessary corrections are discussed in this chapter. To work out the learning outcome of this chapter, practice problems are included in the chapter. More emphasis is given for binder materials as these methods are extensively used to evaluate the cementitious system.
